Cong responsible for 1984, 1989 riots; BJP for 2002: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday attacked the Congress and said it was responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, and the 1989 Bhagalpur riots in Bihar, just as BJP was responsible for the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Nitish, who has been enjoying a bonhomie with the Congress since the JD(U) split from the NDA, attacked the Congress amidst reports of RJD and LJP striking an alliance with the party in Bihar.

Reacting to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s TV interview in which he spoke about the anti-Sikh riots and the Gujarat riots, Nitish said: “Just as BJP has been responsible for 2002 Gujarat riots, Congress is responsible for 1984 riots. Congress is equally responsible for 1989 Bhagalpur riots”.

Speaking on the RJD alliance, he said, “RJD and Congress share the same political temperament and their alliance does not come as a surprise. But Rahul Gandhi talking of tearing up and throwing ordinance (which was later withdrawn) in his fight against graft looks all hollow now.”

Centre invites Nitish for AMU function

PATNA: Under attack from the Bihar government for not informing it about AMU branch foundation-laying ceremony on January 30, Union HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju Tuesday extended invitation to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to atttend the function.

The Union HRD Minister’s faxed letter did not mention Bihar Education Minister P K Shahi’s correspondence with Raju. CM House sources said the Centre’s invitation arrived late and the CM had not yet taken a final call attending the function. ENS